we got that free kick, which is a great goal to equalize it. We just have to be better at home. We came out a little flat and we got thumped, but we showed a lot of heart coming back."
• After starting the first seven games of the season, a toe injury had limited Cristman to just three minutes playing time over a three-game span before his substitute appearance against United. He scored his first goal since the season opener.
• "It felt great, especially considering I am getting over an injury," said Cristman. "It has been frustrating but it's great to be able to contribute to the team other than in practice."
• Kheli Dube celebrated his first MLS start with a goal, and has continued to justify his inclusion in the Revolution, now with a goal in three consecutive games.
• "It's tough in this league. There are big defenders, and we have small forwards," Dube said to The Boston Globe. "It's a matter of creating space and using speed. They come hard at us. If they know you are faster, what they do is kick you. Every player on this team is good, and it's a matter of getting a chance to get in the game and getting a chance to make a difference. The thing about this team is, even if we are struggling, we work as a team. What I've seen, even if we are losing, we keep going."
• While Dube was not called into the Zimbabwean national team for their World Cup qualifiers, Khano Smith will join the Bermuda national team for their World Cup qualifying matches following the FC Dallas contest, facing Trinidad & Tobago in the first leg June 15. As well, Shalrie Joseph is expected to be called into the Grenada national team, which faces Costa Rica in their first-leg qualifier on June 14.
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas lost for the first time with Marco Ferruzzi in charge, as the Colorado Rapids got a late winner for a 2-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. FCD has 13 points from 11 matches, sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference coming into the week, behind the three-way tie between the LA Galaxy, Chivas USA and Houston Dynamo.
LAST MATCH
• The Rapids had alternated wins and losses for the last five games as a three-game homestand was coming to an end, while FC Dallas had recorded a win and a draw in Marco Ferruzzi's first two games in charge, though the draw felt more like a loss as arch-rival Houston again claimed a last-minute tie.
• The Rapids opened the scoring just seven minutes in. Christian Gomez was able to fight off a pair of defenders in the center circle and launch a long ball over the FCD defense. Conor Casey, making his first start of the season, was first to it, cut inside a falling Duilio Davino and calmly curled a low shot inside the right-hand post for his first goal in 2008.
• Dominic Oduro continued his hot form a minute before the break in pulling FCD level. A corner kick bounced around the area before Marcelo Saragosa sent the ball goalward. It hit Oduro, but he was quickest to the deflection and hooked a shot inside the left-hand post for his fourth goal in as many games.
• But the Rapids hit for the winner 18 minutes from the end. A long, thumping downfield cleared everyone, and Colorado striker Tom McManus was able to out-race a pair of FCD defenders before controlling the ball and beating Hoops goalkeeper Ray Burse -- a late replacement for Dario Sala -- inside the near post for his third goal in four starts.
• FCD interim head coach Marco Ferruzzi made three changes to the team that saw Houston Dynamo grab a dramatic 2-2 draw at midweek. Dario Sala came up with a late injury, so Ray Burse was recalled to start between the posts. Adrian Serioux was on international duty and Aaron Pitchkolan came into the back three, and Bobby Rhine came as a wingback for the suspended Andre Rocha.
• Here's Ferruzzi's team (3-4-1-2): Ray Burse - Drew Moor, Duilio Davino, Aaron Pitchkolan - Bobby Rhine, Pablo Ricchetti, Marcelo Saragosa, Blake Wagner (Brek Shea 77) - Juan Toja (Ricardinho 83) - Kenny Cooper, Dominic Oduro (Arturo Alvarez 71). Substitutes Not Used: Eric Avila, Andrew Daniels, Michael Dello-Russo, Mike Graczyk
• "We got back into the game with the goal in the first half," said Ferruzzi. "The talk at halftime was to stay positive, keep doing what we were doing, take advantage of good areas on the field, and keep pressure on their box. We let one slip away; there was a quick transition, they got over our back line and we paid for it."
TEAM NEWS
• After seeing his team claim a victory then be pegged back for a late draw, Ferruzzi was on the losing end of a result for the first time at FCD head coach.
• "We had three games in 10 days and the midfield has have been putting a lot of effort into it and there's been a lot of output from those guys," said Ferruzzi. "We have stayed with the same guys consistently and they have put in a lot of minutes. We're also playing at altitude, but those guys had a great effort."
• The big news prior to the match was the unavailability of goalkeeper Dario Sala, who suffered a hamstring injury in training the day before leaving for Denver. Ray Burse, who was on a full-season loan to USL First Division side Portland Timbers
• After recording seven saves in the Timbers' win at Montreal on Friday, Burse emerged from an 8-hour bus ride to Rochester, N.Y. to learn he needed to get on a plane to Denver. He recorded six saves.
• "He made some spectacular saves," said Ferruzzi. "He had a game on Friday. You have to give him respect for that and he came up big a couple of times today."
• Burse had the advantage of facing a familiar opponent. He made his MLS debut last year in the Hoops' win against Colorado on Aug. 4, recording a shutout win in that game.
• "It was good playing a team I had already faced, but I don't think it matters who the opponent is," said Burse. "I just want to produce like I did last year. It's been hectic. They had me fly from Rochester to Denver last night. Given the conditions I think we did well."
• Oduro continued his streaking form, scoring for the fourth time in four games. He has now started in back-to-back games.
• "The goal did come at a good time so it was good motivation," said Oduro. "We were hoping to come out and continuing playing that way. But it is unfortunate that things didn't work out for us and we will just have to move on from this game."
• Sala is expected to be available for the Revolution match. "Dario (Sala) is good," Ferruzzi said. "Everything has checked out clear from last week. I think his hips were out of position. He's been getting treatment from the chiropractor and has been cleared by the doctor in terms of any long-term issues. He's working himself back.
• "I think he took some handling today," Ferruzzi added after training Tuesday. "He will get a little bit more aggressive tomorrow. I think he'll be fine."
